North Iowa Area Community College names new president

(ABC 6 News) – North Iowa Community College (NIACC) has named a successor to President Steve Schulz, who served the college for 10 years.

Joel Pedersen will begin serving as the school’s president, effective July 1.

Pedersen has served as the chief administrator of Central Rivers Area Education Agency, overseeing 53 school districts and 64,000 students.

Pedersen also served as the superintendent of Cardinal Community School District, where he was named the 2020 Iowa Superintendent of the Year. While at Cardinal, the district was among the Top 150 workplaces in Iowa for five years.

“We are profoundly grateful to the search committee. Their dedication ensured that the most qualified candidates were considered for the role of president at NIACC,” said Board President Cathy Rottinghaus. “The strength of the candidate pool made the decision challenging, but Joel stood out for his visionary leadership and dedication to community advancement. We are thrilled to have him join our team and lead NIACC into a bright future.”

Pedersen stated he aims for the college to emphasize the importance of education in regional transformation and workforce development.

“NIACC is vital in providing educational opportunities and preparing our workforce for the future,” said Pedersen. “I’m committed to building upon the college’s strong foundation and ensuring its continued success.”